Fancy
a long fast trek to the Exmoor Coast? Use
the A31 and A35 to Honiton. Turn left into the town, then the next right, which
is the A373, for an interesting route to Junction 28 of the M5. Either take the
M5 north to Junction 27, or use the B3181.
Use the A361 toward Tiverton, and
at the junction with the A396 head north and then left onto the B3222 to join
the B3223 northwest to Simonsbath. North or right, still on the B3223 for Lynmouth.
On your way look for the pub / hotel by the river, a good spot for lunch on
your right.
Continue to Lynmouth through the gorge that carried the disastrous
flood waters of the 1952 storm. Park up and take a stroll at Lynton Bay, or a
ride on the cliff lift.
Turning east head up and away from this picturesque
harbour on the A39 for Minehead, but take stock of the views over your left shoulder.
The valley of rocks is west of Lynton and worth a visit, so to Porlock bay. You
could turn right on the A396 to Wheddon Cross and explore the park and Brendon
Hills.
This ride really deserves more time and, perhaps, favours a night or
two at B & B. By the time you get home about 400 miles will have rolled by.
To get home I used the A39 to Bridgewater and the A372 to Podimore. You could
divert to Glastonbury and Cheddar, but I joined the queue on the A303 to Wincanton,
then southeast on the B3081 to Shaftesbury via Gillingham and onto Ringwood over
Cranborne Chase, Burley and home.
Exmoor Coast